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Manchester United have had a very impressive start to the season. Three wins and a draw in four games means that the Red Devils are leading the English Premier League on goal difference. In Europe, their long-awaited UEFA Champions League comeback was worth the hype, as they were able to outclass FC Basel with a scoreline of 3-0 in midweek at Old Trafford.
However, with a long campaign ahead, what ultimately matters will be whether they would have achieved silverware by May, and José Mourinho, of all people, will certainly agree with that. Having said that, a successful start does not necessarily guarantee a glorious end. Here are five players who we believe, could have improved Manchester United's squad in the summer transfer window.
#5 - Tiémoué Bakayoko
We all know José Mourinho's tendencies of getting ultra-defensive when the big games approach, and at this early stage of the season, the Portuguese tactician has not yet had the urgent need for this tactical switch. It is in games against Real Madrid, just like in the UEFA Supercup final, where a player like Bakayoko would have been the perfect partner for Nemanja Matic in midfield.
In last season's Champions League edition, the Frenchman averaged 2.9 successful tackles and 2.8 interceptions per game, guiding AS Monaco to the semi-finals of the competition, while being one of the main protagonists. That said, Matic has a reputation of fading in the second half of the season, as most Chelsea fans would agree. If the Serbian gets injured or loses form, who is the current alternative in United's squad?
When a team is competing in as many tournaments as United are, quality and depth are two essential matters.
#4 - Serge Aurier:
It is crazy to think that despite being a regular at Paris Saint Germain for 3 years, Serge Aurier is still only 24 years old. The Ivorian was always a strong point for the French giants, but his lack of professionalism in publicly criticizing former manager, Laurent Blanc, had ruined his status at the club.
As a matter of fact, Aurier only made 6 appearances for PSG last season. With Thomas Meunier's rise and Dani Alves' arrival from Juventus, it was clear that Serge's future was somewhere else. Despite Manchester United's strong reported interested throughout the summer, Tottenham were the eventual winners as they were able to acquire the services of the right back.
On his debut for the club, Aurier impressed against Borussia Dortmund in European action. A balanced right back who can defend well and boost the attack would have been more than welcomed by Mourinho.
#3 - Pepe:
Pepe has been one of the essential elements at Real Madrid since joining the club from FC Porto, back in 2007. The Portuguese international has almost won all there is in European football, including the Spanish league, the Champions League and the Eurocup with Portugal.
An experienced figure of his stature would have added a winning mentality to Manchester United's locker room. While it is true that Victor Lindelöf is one for the future, the former Benfica-man is still 23 years old and is in his adaptation phase after making the big jump from the Liga Sagres to the Premier League.
Pepe would have helped the Swedish man settle, without stalling his development. He is used to performing in big games and would have been important in the later stages of the Champions League.
In a long season with several competitions, United fans would certainly much rather have Pepe to rely on, than Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. It's not like the Red Devils have ever been short of money, but the fact that the Portuguese defender was available on a free, is certainly a strong reason why he should have been signed before Besiktas eventually signed him.
#2 - Benjamin Mendy:
Manchester United's current left back options leave a lot to be desired. From Daley Blind to Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw, they all have their own problems in between poor displays, lack of consistency, weak contribution to the attack and injury woes. It is fair to say that the league leaders in England, are short of a world-class option at the left back position.
And Benjamin Mendy certainly fits the description. The 23-year old has proven this during his time at AS Monaco last season, helping them clinch the French title away from Paris Saint Germain while going all the way to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Despite his low rating on FIFA 18, which left him disappointed as he expressed on Twitter, Mendy is one of the most balanced fullbacks in Europe right now. In Ligue 1 action last season, the former AS Monaco utility-man displayed his class going forward, mustering a total of 9 assists in all competitions.
#1 - Ivan Perisic:
Even before talking about his qualities as a player, the fact that José Mourinho reportedly insisted on bringing Ivan Perisic as a priority, already suggests how much his addition would have been important for Manchester United. When a coach, who has been doing a convincing job at the club, deems a player to be essential to his plans, then you just have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Perisic might be 28, but his characteristics make him the perfect fit for a Mourinho-side. The Croatian international is essentially a left winger but is versatile enough to operate on the right-hand side, whenever needed.
Perisic scored 11 league goals and laid out 8 assists in Serie A action last season. At the start of the current campaign, it has only been 3 games, and the Internazionale star has already scored twice and provided 3 assists. Perisic is in the form of his life, which makes United missing out on him even more disappointing.
Besides the end product, Ivan has a high work-rate and is ready to track back or even sacrifice himself on the pitch for the sake of the team - which is no surprise, for someone who has operated in the Italian league famous for its tactical complexity, for 2 years.
In addition to that, Perisic is always a constant threat in counter-attacks, which, yet again, is a trait that Mourinho greatly values in his players. For all these reasons, it would not be a surprise if United do return for the Croatian star in the near future.
